For
when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you
again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such
as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

a.The writer understands that time is essential to growth.

b.Here, enough time had passed, but these Christians had not grown as they
should have grown.

3.NOTE: In the course of time, God expects us to be a certain points in
the growth process.

D.We are to grow in many areas.

1.Peter mentioned grace and knowledge (II Pet. 3:18).

2.Paul exhorted the Philippians to abound in love and the knowledge and
judgment that is coupled with that love (Phil. 1:9).

And
this I pray that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and in all
judgment.

3.We are to grow the fruit of the Spirit in our Christian lives (Gal. 5:22-23).

4.We are to add the Christians graces (II Pet. 1:5-11).

E.Our growth makes us more like Jesus.

1.The Bible has been given to mold us into the image of our Lord Jesus
Christ.

2.Every command, every chapter, every paragraph, every sentence, and every
word in the Bible are endued with the nature of God.

3.The more we know, the more we put in practice, the more like our Lord we
become.

4.Romans 12:2b

…but
be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that
good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

5.Connect Matthew 5:48 and II Timothy 3:16-17 and we find how the Word of
God is involved in making us “perfect” as the Father which is in heaven is
perfect.

b.It wants someone who is skilled and who will benefit the company
immediately.

2.The same is true in the kingdom.

a.The more a person grows, the more beneficial he/she becomes to the
kingdom.

b.He can become a teacher, deacon, elders, or preacher.

c.A person can be a mentor, a comforter, an encourager, a restorer, or a
defender of the faith.

3.II Timothy 2:21

If
a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour,
sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

G.Growing to maturity preserves the cause of Christ from reproach.

1.Others are constantly watching those who call themselves Christians.

2.They watch to see what the new Christians becomes.

3.If there is little, or, no change, the child of God’s life becomes a
reproach to the cause.

4.In Philippians 2:15, Paul exhorts us to live in such a way that this
does not happen.

That
ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst
of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.

H.Growth keeps us from falling away.

1.The one who is growing is healthy, active, and vibrant.

a.He watches his heart.

b.He guards his lips.

c.He disciplines his body.

2.The one who does not grow becomes weak and sickly. Satan is able to
take advantage of this individual.

3.II Peter 1:10-11

…for
if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered
unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ.

III.EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIAN GROWTH

A.Hunger for the Word of God.

1.Growing babies are constantly hungry.

2.So are growing Christians (I Pet. 2:2)

As
newborn babes, desire the sincere mile of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

B.Obedience to God’s Word.

1.The growing Christian rarely has to be exhorted to obey his heavenly
Father.

2.His obedience is no longer forced. It comes from a loving, willing
heart that desires to please the Savior.

3.Example: Philemon (Phil. 21)

Having
confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do
more than I say.

C.Purging of sinful things

1.As we grow, we understand the evil of sin, hate sin, and seek to rid it
from our lives.

2.I Corinthians 7:1

Having
therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

D.Adding the Christian graces (II Pet. 1:5-8)

And
besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue, and to virtue,
knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to
patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly
kindness, charity. For if these things be in you and abound, they make you
that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord
Jesus Christ.

E.Ability to endure persecutions (Ex., Paul).

1.Acts 20:24

But
none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself.

2.II Timothy 4:6

For
I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

F.Moving up in one’s position in the body of Christ.

1.Him would Paul have to go forth with him… (Acts
16:2).

2.Timothy was a disciple (Acts 16:1). He was well reported of by the
brethren that were in Lystra and Iconium (Acts 16:2), and was moved up to an
evangelist.